Corning® BioCoat™ Matrigel® Invasion Chamber
Catalog No. 354480, 354481
Guidelines for Use
Discovery Labware, Inc., Two Oak Park, Bedford, MA 01730, Tel: 1.978.442.2200 (U.S.)
CLSTechServ@Corning.com www.corning.com/lifesciences
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.
For a listing of trademarks, visit www.corning.com/lifesciences/trademarks
© 2013 Corning Incorporated
Page 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Intended use ........................................................................................................................................ 2
Summary.............................................................................................................................................. 2
Materials Provided. .............................................................................................................................. 2
Materials Required But Not Supplied .................................................................................................. 2
Precautions .......................................................................................................................................... 3
Procedure for Use................................................................................................................................ 3
1.0
2.0
3.0
Rehydration................................................................................................................... 3
Invasion Studies.......................................................................................................... 4
Measurement of cell invasion ..................................................................................... 4
Typical results ...................................................................................................................................... 7
Stability ................................................................................................................................................. 7
Technical Service................................................................................................................................. 7
References........................................................................................................................................... 8
®
NOTE: Process changes have been made to improve the performance and quality of Corning
BioCoat™ Matrigel® Invasion Chambers. *Please review the following Sections for new information
regarding product usage.
PRECAUTIONS (b) (page 3): New storage conditions
PROCEDURE FOR USE (page 3): Appearance of the Matrigel Basement Membrane Matrix
PROCEDURE FOR USE, Section 1.0 Rehydration (page 3) New rehydration times
PROCEDURE FOR USE, Section Invasion Studies (page 4): New suggested cell seeding densities
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INTENDED USE
The Corning® BioCoat™ Matrigel® Invasion Chamber is useful to study cell invasion of malignant
and normal cells. Specific applications include assessment of the metastatic potential of tumor
cells1, inhibition of metastasis by extracellular matrix components2 or antineoplastic drugs (taxol)3,
altered expression of cell surface proteins4 or metalloproteinases5 in metastatic cells, and invasion
of normal cells, such as embryonic stem cells6, cytotrophoblasts7, and fibroblasts8
Invasion studies have been successfully performed on a variety of tumor cells (cell lines and
primary tumors) including melanomas, glioblastomas, astrocytomas, osteosarcomas,
fibrosarcomas, and adenocarcinomas of the lung, prostate, breast, ovary, and kidney.
This product is FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY; NOT FOR USE IN DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES.
SUMMARY
Corning BioCoat Matrigel Invasion Chambers provide cells with the conditions that allow
assessment of their invasive property in vitro. The Corning BioCoat Matrigel Invasion Chambers
consists of a Falcon® TC Companion Plate with Falcon Cell Culture Inserts containing an 8
micron pore size PET membrane with a thin layer of MATRIGEL Basement Membrane Matrix. The
Matrigel Matrix serves as a reconstituted basement membrane in vitro. The layer occludes the
pores of the membrane, blocking non-invasive cells from migrating through the membrane. In
contrast, invasive cells (malignant and non-malignant) are able to detach themselves from and
invade through the Matrigel Matrix and the 8 micron membrane pores. The membrane may be
processed for light and electron microscopy and can be easily removed after staining. The Matrigel
Invasion Chamber is a convenient, ready-to-use system to study cell invasion in vitro.
MATERIALS PROVIDED

Invasion Chambers (24 inserts each)

Catalog # 354480 provided as 12 inserts in each of two 24-well Falcon TC Companion Tissue
Culture Plates

Catalog # 354481 provided as 6 inserts in each of four 6-well Falcon TC Companion Tissue
Culture Plates
MATERIALS REQUIRED BUT NOT SUPPLIED

Bicarbonate based culture medium such as DMEM (serum-free)

Control Inserts (24-well, Catalog #354578 or 6-well, Catalog #354576)

Chemoattractant such as 5% fetal bovine serum in tissue culture medium

Companion Plates (24-well, Catalog #353504 or 6-well, Catalog #353502)

Humidified tissue culture incubator, 37o C, 5% CO2 atmosphere
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
Diff-Quik staining kit (Allegiance Catalog # B4132-1A) or other suitable fixative and stain

Laminar flow tissue culture hood

Scalpel (#11 blade recommended)

Microscope with (optional) camera

Microscope slides and coverslips

Cotton swab

Sterile forceps

Immersion oil
PRECAUTIONS
a.)
The following procedure has been optimized using HT-1080 human fibrosarcoma
cells. Results may vary depending upon the cells used and the specific conditions,
especially those of medium, incubation time, cell seeding density, and
chemoattractant, under which the procedure is performed. Individual researchers
should optimize conditions for their system.
b.)
Storage: Materials should be stored at -20C in the original packaging.
c.)
All procedures should be performed under aseptic conditions.
California Proposition 65 Notice
WARNING:
This product contains a chemical known to the state of California to cause cancer.
Component:
Chloroform
PROCEDURE FOR USE
NOTE: The appearance of the Matrigel Matrix coating on the Corning® BioCoat™ Matrigel®
Invasion Chamber has changed. The new glossy appearance is a result of process
improvements, which have enhanced the performance and quality of the product.
1.0
Rehydration
Note: Refer to Table 1 below for volumes to be used for the 24-well (354480) or 6-well
(354481) configurations of the Corning BioCoat Matrigel Invasion Chambers.
1.1
1.2
Remove the package from -20°C storage and allow to come to room temperature.
Add warm (37C) bicarbonate based culture medium to the interior of the inserts
and bottom of wells. Allow to rehydrate for 2 hours in humidified tissue culture
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incubator, 37C, 5% CO2 atmosphere.
1.3
After rehydration, carefully remove the medium without disturbing the layer of
Corning® Matrigel® Matrix on the membrane.
Table 1: Solution Volumes for Matrigel Invasion Chambers
Rehydration of insert and well
Well (i.e., chemoattractant)
Cells
Stain
Rinse
2.0
3.0
24-well
0.5 ml (insert) and 0.5 ml (well)
0.750 ml
0.50 ml
0.50 ml
150 ml
6-well
2.0 ml (insert) and 2.0 ml (well)
2.5 ml
2.0 ml
2.5 ml
250 ml
Invasion Studies
2.1
Rehydrate the number of Matrigel inserts to be used as directed above. Prepare an
equal number of Control Inserts by using sterile forceps to transfer them to empty
wells of the Falcon® TC Companion Plate.
2.2
Prepare HT-1080 cell suspensions in culture medium containing 5x104 cells/ml for
24- well chambers or 1.25x10 5 cells/ml for 6-well chambers. To determine the
optimal seeding density for your cell type on a porous growth surface, we
recommend using a range of seeding densities (cells/cm2) that brackets the seeding
density used on nonporous surfaces (i.e. flasks, dishes and plates). For example, if
you currently seed at 105 cells/cm2, seed 0.5x105 and 5x105 cells/cm2 to determine
the optimal initial seeding density.
2.3
Add chemoattractant to the wells of the Falcon TC Companion Plate.
2.4
Use sterile forceps to transfer the chambers and control inserts to the wells
containing the chemoattractant. Be sure that no air bubbles are trapped beneath the
membranes. This can be avoided by tipping the insert or chamber at a slight angle
as it is lowered into the liquid.
2.5
Immediately add 0.5 ml of HT-1080 cell suspension (2.5x104 cells) or your cell
suspension to the 24-well chambers or 2.0 ml (2.5X105 cells) to the 6-well
chambers.
2.6
Incubate the Corning BioCoat™ Matrigel Invasion Chambers for 22 hours in a
humidified tissue culture incubator, at 37oC, 5% CO2 atmosphere.
Measurement of cell invasion
3.1
Removal of non-invading cells
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Note: After incubation, the non-invading cells are removed from the upper surface of the
membrane by “scrubbing”. The attachment of the membrane to the insert housing is
quite firm and will not be dislodged during scrubbing nor will cells be dislodged from
the bottom surface of the membrane. Scrubbing is very efficient in removing
Matrigel Matrix and/or non-invading cells from the upper membrane surface.
Scrubbing must be accomplished quickly to avoid drying of the cells adhering
to the bottom surface of the membrane.
3.2
a.)
Insert a cotton tipped swab into the Corning® BioCoat™ Matrigel® insert and
apply gentle but firm pressure while moving the tip over the membrane
surface.
b.)
Repeat the scrubbing with a second swab moistened with medium.
Staining of cells
Note: The cells on the lower surface of the membrane are stained with Diff-Quik stain.
The Diff-Quik kit contains a fixative and two stain solutions. Staining is accomplished
by sequentially transferring the inserts through the three solutions and two water
rinses. The appearance is similar to that obtained by Wright-Giemsa staining. The
cell nuclei stain purple and the cytoplasm stains pink. Suitable alternative staining
procedures include fixation followed by hematoxylin and eosin staining or crystal
violet. The membranes need not be removed from the insert housing for staining.
a.)
Add each Diff-Quik solution to three rows of a Falcon® TC Companion Plate.
Add distilled water to two beakers.
b.)
Sequentially transfer the inserts through each stain solution and the two
beakers of water. Allow approximately > 2 minutes in each solution.
c.)
Allow the inserts to air dry.
Alternatively, cells may be fixed and stained with 100% methanol and 1% Toluidine
blue, respectively.
3.3
a)
Add 100% methanol to the appropriate number of wells of a Falcon TC
Companion Plate. In a separate plate, add 1% Toluidine Blue in 1% borax
to the appropriate number of wells. Add distilled water to two beakers.
b)
Transfer inserts into the methanol for 2 minutes.
c)
Transfer inserts into the Toluidine stain for 2 minutes.
d)
Rinse inserts in the two beakers of distilled water to remove excess stain.
e)
Allow the inserts to air dry.
Counting of invading cells
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Note: Cell counting is facilitated by photographing the membrane through the microscope.
Direct counting of the cells at the microscope is also acceptable.
a.)
Remove the membrane from the insert housing by inverting the insert and
inserting the tip of a sharp scalpel blade through the membrane at the edge
adjacent to the housing wall. Rotate the insert housing against the stationary
blade and the membrane will be released in much the same manner as the
lid is cut from a tin can. Do not fully release the membrane from the housing
but leave a very small point of attachment.
b.)
Use forceps to peel the membrane from the remaining point of attachment
and place it bottom side down on a microscope slide on which a small drop
of immersion oil has been placed. Place a second very small drop of
immersion oil on top of the membrane.
c.)
Place a second slide or cover slip on top of the membrane and apply gentle
pressure to expel any air bubbles.
d.)
Observe and/or photograph the invading cells under the microscope at
approximately 40 - 200X magnifications depending on cell density. Count
cells in several fields of triplicate membranes.
Note: Cells will invade through the Corning® Matrigel® on the 8 m membrane pores
ranging from even distribution to localization in discrete areas notably the center of
the membrane and/or around the periphery of the membrane. When counting cells
of triplicate membranes, choose fields in the center of the membrane as well as
fields in the periphery of the membrane for ‘true’ representation of the cell number
throughout the membrane.
3.4
Data Reduction
Note: Data is expressed as the percent invasion through the Corning Matrigel Matrix and
membrane relative to the migration through the Control membrane. The "Invasion
Index" is also expressed as the ratio of the percent invasion of a test cell over the
percent invasion of a control cell.
a.)
Determine the Percent Invasion:
Mean # of cells invading through Matrigel insert membrane
% Invasion = -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- X 100
Mean # of cell migrating through control insert membrane
b.)
Determine the Invasion Index:
Invasion Index =
TYPICAL RESULTS
% Invasion Test Cell
------------------------% Invasion Control Cell
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The following results are typical of those obtained when the Corning® BioCoat™ Matrigel® Invasion
Chambers (MIC) (Cat # 354480, 24 well format) are used as described to assess the invasion of
HT-1080 fibrosarcoma test cells and NIH 3T3 control cells in a 18-24 hour assay, they are
provided for reference only. Results will vary with different cell types, chemoattractants, and
time.
# cells invasion MIC
(triplicate)
Mean
# cell migration (control
insert)
Mean
% Invasion
Invasion Index
78
HT-1080
(test cells)
63
206
72.7
168
77
NIH 3T3
(control cells)
6
2
5
182
4.3
151
177
175
185.3
167.6
72.7/185.3 x 100 =
4.3/167.6 x 100 =
39.2%
2.56%
39.3% / 2.56% = 15.3
Due to the large membrane surface area (4.2 cm2/insert) of the Corning BioCoat Matrigel Invasion
Chambers in the 6 well format (Cat# 354481), this format may not be conducive to quantitative
analysis of cell invasion for all cell types, However, the 6 well format is well suited for selecting
"invasive" cell phenotypes from non-invasive cell phenotypes in response to a chemoattractant.
Invaded cells are then removed from the bottom of the membrane for propagation and cell
expansion. For quantitative measurements, we recommend the use of the 24-well format (Cat#
354480).
STORAGE
The Corning BioCoat Matrigel Invasion Chambers are stable when stored at -20°C.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Email CLSTechServ@Corning.com for regional Technical and Scientific Support.
REFERENCES
1. Albini, A. et al., Cancer Res. 47:3239 (1987)
2. Kobayshi, H.et al., Cancer Res. 52:3610 (1992)
3. Melchiori, A. et al., Cancer Res. 52:2352 (1992)
4. Sterns, M. and Want, M., Cancer Res. 47:3776 (1987)
5. Sato, H. et al., Nature 370: 61 (1994)
5. Alexander, C.M. and Werb, Z., Cell Biol. 118:727 (1992)
6. Cross, J.C. et al., Science 266: 1508 (1994)
7. Chu, Y-W. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:4261 (1993)
Discovery Labware, Inc., Two Oak Park, Bedford, MA 01730, Tel: 1.978.442.2200 (U.S.)
CLSTechServ@Corning.com www.corning.com/lifesciences
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.
For a listing of trademarks, visit www.corning.com/lifesciences/trademarks
© 2013 Corning Incorporated